PAF gets 3 more choppers

The Philippine Air Force (PAF) received and blessed yesterday the remaining three newly refurbished UH-IH (Huey) helicopters out of 20 acquired from Singapore last year.

The newly acquired helicopters are the same type of aircraft that crashed in a mountainous area in Nueva Ecija last month, killing former Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) director Raymundo Punongbayan and eight others.

PAF chief Lt. Gen. Jose Reyes said the three Huey helicopters would be commissioned for service despite the recent air tragedies involving Air Force servicemen.

Reyes made the announcement as the helicopters with body numbers 518, 519 and 520, were "blessed" in a simple ceremony held at Villamor Air Base, Pasay City yesterday.

Despite the recent spate of air accidents, the PAF will still hold its "Balik Fernando 2005" homecoming to honor its active and retired aviators in Air Education and Training Command (AETC) at Fernando Air Base, Lipa City on Saturday, Air Force spokesman Lt. Col. Restituto Padilla said.

The annual homecoming of pilots will be highlighted by a parade and review, along with presentation of awards and plaques to outstanding AETC graduates.

Padilla said the AETC would honor its graduates who perished in last Monday’s plane crash in Baguio City as well as the other aviators who died in the line of duty.

The AETC graduates who perished in the Baguio crash were 1Lts. Roberto Manlongat Jr., Dennis Abaygar, Aristotle Agnuluan Jr., and Randy Gabriel.

The four died when their military trainer plane crashed in Atok shortly after taking off from Loakan Airport in Baguio City.

Padilla said the Air Force brass is now facilitating benefits for the four officers’ dependents.

He pointed out the beneficiaries will receive the death benefits corresponding to their rank, length of service, leave balances and contributions.

He said each family is entitled to receive P71,000 in death benefits, P10,000 and P17,000 in accident benefits from the Mutual Benefit Association Inc.

The dependents of deceased officers will also receive P45,000 from the PAF Mutual Relief System, burial expenses of P1,200 and a monthly pension from the Philippine Veterans Administration Office of P5,000 and P1,000 for every child. — Jaime Laude